Although it was released late last year, the new Wicked movie has slowly made its way to theaters all over the world, capturing the attention of many. Starring celebrities like Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, this new era gave the internet something new and exciting to talk about. However, is it really as good as people say it is? Or is it overrated and not much fun to watch?

Both this new version of the show and the original Broadway play were based on the book titled Wicked by Gregory Maguire, published in 1995. The plot follows two girls, Elphaba and Glinda, as they navigate their way through Shiz University of Oz. Elphaba and Glinda could not be more different; one is green and one has a normal skin tone, one is popular and the other is not. Throughout the show, the two put their differences aside as they venture through Emerald City in an attempt to save the animals of Oz, who were banned from speaking. 

The main plot occurs when Elphaba is invited to Emerald City by the Wizard himself, who has taken an interest in her special levitation powers. Contrary to what she expected, the Wizard did not care about the animals being caged and instead wanted to use them to his own benefit. Elphaba steals the Grimmerie, the magical spell book, and takes off using her gravitational powers. This is where part one of Wicked ends. 

“I really loved Wicked and I thought it was a great movie!” said freshman Olivia Ramirez. “The songs were also really great and unexpected.” 

What makes Wicked such a great movie is the many different themes it explores. From the friendship-rivalry experience, to the feeling of isolation, Wicked truly expresses it all. It may seem like a heartfelt, family-friendly movie on the surface, but it has a deeper, more extensive meaning to the story. Wicked shows the unfortunate reality of the aloneness that comes with standing up for yourself and what you believe in. It gives the viewers clarification of how not everyone will always support your choices. 

There are some obvious differences between the original Broadway show and this newer adaptation. For instance, the movie gives viewers a look into Elphaba’s backstory, which the play does not do. The play also does not include the scene where Elphaba and Prince Fiyero have their first encounter in the woods. In addition, some characters have been changed around as well. Instead of Madame Morrible being headmaster like in the play, the movie introduces a new character named Miss Coddle as the principal. The movie also gives a brief glimpse at Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion walking down a path during the song “No One Mourns the Wicked.” 

“I really enjoyed how the vocals were sung live on set, and it ended up being both very immersive and beautiful!” said sophomore Irene Zhang. “I really appreciate the musical numbers and the effort and character that was put into each one of them.” 

The biggest stand-out to Wicked, many felt, were the celebrity features. However, it was surprising to see the leading cast work so well together while simultaneously upholding their own roles. The acting was truly something special and really brought the characters to life. 

Wicked has proved itself to be one of the most popular films of 2024, but does that mean you should watch it? Most of this depends on genre preference. This show would not be recommended for people who enjoy action and thriller, as it showcases minimal adrenaline pumping scenes. Wicked only offers one chase scene toward the end of the movie, where Elphaba escapes from the Wizard’s office. This show should instead be recommended to people who enjoy fantasy and musicals, as it incorporates 11 songs and one additional bonus track. The fantasy element is present in many scenes, featuring magical powers and even moving libraries. 

“I thought it was kind of boring,” said freshman Vanessa Wu. “I like action movies and I don’t really like musicals, Wicked included.” 

Generally, Wicked is considered worth seeing even if you’re not so much of a musical fan. In addition to the songs, Wicked provides dynamic, powerful performances that make it enthralling to many audiences. The one thing that has impressed me the most is the stunning visuals and high quality editing, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The production evidently shows off the budget they had for this show ($145 million). 

Wicked has undoubtedly become one of the biggest releases of last year. Despite a big part of the show being singing, the emotional acting and exceptional storytelling makes it a must see.